Bermuda head into the World Cup in Trinidad next week as 5,000-1 outsiders - and looking every bit the part of rank underdogs.

Another one-day international defeat to Zimbabwe yesterday - their 14th reverse in their last 16 matches - brought to an end almost two years’ of preparation, helped along by an $11 million investment by Government, since their qualification in Ireland in the summer of 2005.

The 15-man squad, representing the smallest country with the smallest population ever to step onto cricket’s biggest stage, now face the might of Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.

And following the 241-run walloping they took from England earlier this week and the six-wicket defeat yesterday to an African side also considered World Cup no-hopers, the prospects don’t look good.

Yet, as with every defeat they’ve suffered in recent months, Bermuda managed to take a small positive out of yesterday’s defeat at the Arnos Vale - Janeiro Tucker smashing an impressive half-century on his return to action from a groin injury.

Dwayne Leverock, who earned celebrity status among the English media following his performance on Monday, also picked up another two wickets.

But by and large there was little for the team to celebrate, another woeful batting performance ensuring that Zimbabwe barely had to break sweat to achieve what was ultimately a comfortable victory.

Coach Gus Logie and his team will head out this morning on the same flight as the Zimbabweans for Jamaica where the World Cup opening ceremony takes place on Sunday.

They then travel to Trinidad on Monday, aware that several hundred Bermudians will be jetting out to the same Caribbean island desperate to see a turn-around in the team’s fortunes when they play their first cup match against Sri Lanka next Thursday.